The number of notes on that post advocating to not pursue an impeachment of Trump due to Pence is actually horrifying.
1. Pence is running things anyway. Showing the public the man behind the curtain is quite crucial. Remember, when Trump offered vp to Kasich, he told him he’d be in charge of both domestic and foreign affairs.
2. Trump’s temperament is likely to have extremely negative geopolitical consequences in a way that Pence’s wouldn’t. Who do you see as more likely to engage in a ground war along with Russia? Trump already talked about invading Iraq again. And this isn’t touching the nuclear arsenal thing.
3. Pence is not popular in Congress at all. A republican who is hugely hated in Indiana does not really have a ton of political capital, especially since he tanked their economy. A lot of the reason GOP swung to Trump late is because *he* was the charismatic face that was creating this supposed populist “movement” (the marches sort of knocked the wind out of that a little). It’s Trump that is being held up, and it’s Trump specifically the neonazis are looking towards (Bannon wrote his fucking inaugural address). We need Trump, the man, to go ASAP for that reason.
Pence will be our worst president, but he’ll be survivable, he’ll have no chance at reelection, and seeing as he’s already most definitely the one driving policy (Dep of Ed pick was his, almost without question, for instance), we at least need to have that recognized so he can be held accountable.
Pence is not the “real Hitler.” Authoritarian movements prop up one person. In this case it was Trump. The MAGA hats have jack-all to do with Pence, and exceedingly little to do with policy. Which is why Trump, specifically, is the threat to our democracy.
Tag: seriously
whats even the point of liking fictional characters if you dont project onto them in a multitude of weird and personal ways you feel uncomfortable discussing in significant depth with people
no offence but if black sails doesn’t stray from treasure island canon and somehow give flint a happy ending, i’m rioting
The worst part of this is going out on the street and suddenly wondering if everyone you see is a trump voter. 59 million people out there, including my state that swung red, subscribed to his hateful, racist, xenophobic rhetoric, to pence’s violent and anti-lgbt policies. Random white people on the street, in the store, next door, everywhere- all I can think is, “Was it you? Do you hate me and everyone like me?”
every time I see the words “Tolkien ripoff” in reference to fantasy I laugh, because while there’s a lot of Tolkien ripoff in worldbuilding it almost never crops up in plot or theme or characterization
like
where are my stories about the decay of the world from the glory of days gone by?
where’s the motif of limb loss?
where’s the longing for the return of something worth following?
where are the bloodthirsty oaths that tear sanity to shreds?
where are the evil spirits who try and destroy the gods with steampunk V-1 buzz bombs (looking at you, The Lost Road)?
where’s my continent-wide dialectical shift ending in massive arguments over the proper pronunciation of a name? where’s my family drama centered around sparkly rocks? where are my dragons the size of mountain ranges?
someone: how are you
what I say: I’m fine
what I mean: it’s been approximately a century and they still haven’t released the official ost for black sails season two. my hope is dwindling, my crops are dying, my skin is shriveling up. I listen to “the parson’s farewell” for the twenty-third time this week. it’s beautiful, mesmerizing, and exciting; it shall never lose its charm. and yet I want more from this life. there is a world out there, a world that bear mccreary has created, and I am being locked out of it. I watch season two and turn up my volume as loud as I can, savoring the background tunes. I play the credits over and over just to feel alive again, all the while asking myself, when will this drought end? when will rain come?
Vane: *gets dead drunk and falls asleep*
someone: *washes him while he’s sleeping*
Vane: *wakes up to find himself clean*
Vane: *starts screaming*
i’m tired of thoughts and prayers
Your thoughts and prayers aren’t enough.
Keep them.
Without them, you feel helpless, don’t you.
Good.
That’s what it’s like to go head to head with an AK-15, the gun that was used both in Orlando and Newton. You are helpless. Maybe some goddamn empathy with the victims will lead to some actual gun reform in this country.
Imagine being in their shoes. Imagine being 5 and going to kindergarten and finding yourself looking up the barrel of an automatic weapon, a weapon of mass destruction. Imagine going out to a club, to one of the only venues in which you can feel free to be exactly who you are without judgement and fear of homophobia, imagine that place destroyed before your very eyes. It’s terrifying. And it could happen to anyone. After Sandy Hook we said never again. And then we let 998 mass shootings happen. The United States of America, the only country in the world where mass shootings are everyday. Aren’t you proud of us?
Thoughts and prayers are not enough. And that sentence has been perverted by the congressmen and senators who will only offer their thoughts and prayers and little else by way of substance in the legislature. So what is enough? It will be enough when you’re shocked to hear about a shooting, that’s how infrequent they are. Look at Canada. Look at Australia.
We need to do better.
Write your congressman and tell them how this is UNACCEPTABLE. Find out which of your elected representatives takes donations from the NRA. If you’re in the Orlando area, donate blood and plasma. AND WHEN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS COME, VOTE FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT OPPOSITE GUNS AND THE NRA: ontheissues.org
This election could be the turn of the tide. If an anti-gun majority can take the House and Senate, I believe we have a real shot at REAL, PERMANENT reform. People say that if we couldn’t do it after Newtown, we’ll never be able to make real gun reform in the Unites States.
So keep your thoughts and prayers. What we need to do is prove to the world that they’re wrong about us. We need to prove to ourselves that they’re wrong about us. Vote, donate, let your voice be heard. Register to vote if you haven’t already. When you’re done with all that, hug your loved ones tight and appreciate what many families and friends and loved ones are no longer able to do.
Meg's Mumbles 